News: Iranian society

Over a year on from a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran that killed 600 people, injured 10,000 and left 70,000 homeless and the vast majority of those made homeless are still living in tents, despite the onslaught of brutal winter weather.

Handwritten advertisements of organ sales are so commonly witnessed across many cities of Iran now, and the saddest part is that they’re mostly from young unemployed people; under such harsh economic pressures, they give up their own body parts (kidney, liver, cornea, and much more) just to be able to afford their daily needs.

This has become so prevalent especially in Tehran, that some areas are considered a hotspot for organ sale.

The number of Iranian people living in poverty continues to grow, and many children are suffering from illnesses due to inadequate amounts of food. Poverty is an important factor of the increasing malnutrition among Iranian children, who may go on to experience physical and mental disabilities.

Poverty is speedily spreading across Iran; in fact, as acknowledged by many government officials themselves, more than 70% of Iran’s population is living under the poverty line now.

According to ILNA (October 31st, 2018): “At this point in time, around 70% of our population lives in a very vulnerable situation. Though the poorer class have been hit the strongest by poverty, the middle class is also suffering as much, especially given that they can’t reduce their expenses all that easily”.

The gas shortage in the poverty-stricken Sistan and Baluchestan province, south-west Iran, has caused incredible problems for the people there, with many having to line up for hours in order to fill up their gas cylinders, before the harsh winters that plague this dry province come into full force.

Earlier this year, the Iranian regime made the decision to ban Telegram – the most popular messaging service in Iran with more than 42 million regular users. The hardliners ordered internet service providers to block access to the messaging service on 30th April.

The world’s child labour rate has dropped by a third Since 2000, but there are still many countries where child labour is a serious problem.

One of these countries is Iran and situation is getting worse and worse. The economy is struggling and the people are getting poorer and poorer. Unrest is widespread and people are resorting to desperate measures to be able to cope with their situation.